Introduction
In this, my
second book on Friedreich's
Ataxia (I will
most often refer to this disease as "FA"
from here on), there are many changes from the earlier work. Initially,
I wrote this book primarily for the layman with little background in
science. However, some scientific concepts are very difficult - from
feedback. For those with academic training in science, the concepts
should be intriguing and worthwhile. There is little
reference to "FA" beyond the first chapters, because comparing
our disease symptoms to similarities with other chronic ailments is
considered speculative. Secondly, there is not any overt scientific work
on comparisons (not the 'accepted' kind of science). And thirdly, I
perceive that FA is a disorder that has evolved because of 'natural
reactions' to environmental influences of our parents and our ancestors
combined. (There is much scientific finger-pointing that seeks to target
our parents and ancestors for 'carrying the wrong gene'. Rather than
seeking solace from misplaced blame, I prefer to find the cause(s) of
our genetic aberration and seek also to maximize our health
possibilities1.) Different
patterns of environment and diet would probably produce other
disorders,
differing from the family of symptoms known as FA. In such
circumstances, FA would remain an invisible, undetected syndrome. There are
strategies now available that we can apply to eliminate those symptoms
that are not genetic in origin, minimize the ones that have a genetic
component and possibly REPAIR DNA2
ITSELF. (This last
possibility is very 'experimental', but I will also refer to its use -
positive and negative.) A program of this kind, if successful, would
also eliminate the genetic transmission of the disorder from generation
to generation. An example of
altered environmental influences happened to many emigrant cultures. In
Scotland a process called 'the Highland Clearance' (infamous among Scots
because raising sheep was preferred) began about 400 years ago. It
started by forcing people from their traditional customs and diet ...
then to a city diet ... then an emigrant diet in North America. Four
hundred years seems such a long time for the living, but in the
time-frame of natural genetic changes it accounts as much less than 'the
blink of an eye'. In the last 90 years3,
most peoples are receiving a man-made 'very powerful 1–2 punch' ....
and many are suffering from heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and a many
other afflictions. It’s a wonder that any of us are even alive -
MAYBE, WE WON’T BE TOO MUCH LONGER! These historic
occurrences might seem like a blessing in disguise, because starvation
might have been awaiting many Scots. Celts (among others) have been
strongly and unknowingly influenced by such changes.1 In the pages to
follow, I hope to present a strategy that is more in line with the kind
of genetic make-up human beings are supposed to have inherited. Let's
begin with a little background: History In 1980, Claude
St-Jean, of Montreal, the FA'er who started raising money for a research
effort investigating Friedreich's Ataxia, visited me and asked if I would start an FA association in
Ontario. It would be similar to the one he had already begun in Quebec.
The very next year, 1981, was International Year of Disabled Persons. I
received the funds from the federal government to begin such a group.
Our main work centred on locating and visiting as many FA'ers in Ontario
as possible. [Claude had given me his list as a starting point in the
search.] It soon became
evident that a way to keep these people in contact with one another was
needed. [It is very difficult not to feel isolated with this kind of
disorder2.]
So the HOPEline (our newsletter)... came out with letters, jokes,
puzzles, some recipes, a poem or two... and information regarding
treatments like cell-therapy and diet. Near the end of
the HOPEline's life, I printed a 'book' on Friedreich's Ataxia compiled
from the information that I had acquired over the years about this
disease. [The federal funds were for 'start-up', but carrying the costs
of a newsletter for a longer time eventually became prohibitive.] After their
disorder has been diagnosed, many FA'ers are left in the dark. They are
left wondering about how the disease is likely to progress; about how to
find out whether there is any way to minimize damage; about how to be as
healthy as possible; about where to find specialized medical attention;
and, about the costs involved in such undertakings. These are all
included in this second book. In this revised
and updated version there is an attempt to amalgamate my concepts with
those presented in 'Eat Right 4 Your Type' by Peter D'Adamo (1996); ‘The Carnitine Miracle’ by Robert Crayon(1998); and, ‘Lights Out’ by T.S.
Wiley(Feb2000);
and very recently, by ‘ENDOGENOUS
RESPIRATION .. medicine of the third millennium’ by V. Frolov. My health has benefited immensely from this
combination. However, this text is not any sort of repeat of any other
work. To employ these ideas properly you will necessarily have
to use some of
these authors’ very practical directions. My prime focus in this book
is for Type-O blood(mine). Also there has been very little attempt to
amalgamate other blood-types with my ideas. Such an effort can be done,
I think! [The focus on blood-type is D’Adamo’s, while the other
three authors do not even consider this situation! However, for other
FA’ers with type-O blood, my strategies should be mostly the same ....
for other blood types, I really don’t know!] Difficulties
with this information Research in FA
is an on-going process. Because of this, the information is necessarily incomplete.
However, there is enough information now available to publish a good
beginning. The laboratory
research is still continuing. I do have trouble with today’s efforts
because much seems too narrow in scope and lacking in clinical
applications. At the same time, other avenues of orthodox applied
research are vigorously pursued, but are ethically dubious. Secondly, I am
no expert. This book is an attempt by one FA'er (me) to make even a
little sense out of this disease and to explain his thinking to other
FA'ers. Some of the theoretical explanations are mine ( and, at times,
pose 'unusual' attempts to make sense of our 'mess'). I am a little more
of an 'expert' than when I wrote the first book, so much of this
different thinking seems like only a logical progression to me. Thirdly, please
remember that this is ALL AN EXPERIMENT. There is no magic wand ... no
hocus pocus. This is an experiment to maximize my health and it is
ongoing. There have been many blind alleys. These will continue to be
mixed-in with any good results. Like all experiments, many things are
tried...from very helpful to the downright dangerous. After some
investigating then, if there appears to be of merit, then I become a
guinea pig. We FA'ers are
in a unique position. We can choose to wait until 'the scientists' have
found the
answer, or we can
try to maximize our health now by 'attacking' those aspects of FA that
seem amenable to improvement.
Initial
advisory If you try to
improve your own health by following some of the strategies outlined in
these pages then you should be prepared for some adverse reaction on the
part of others. What follows is just a sampling of the many obstacles
you will encounter. I think that for some people, coping with a
wheelchair will be easier than following this route: 1) There are many psychological 'head games' that need to be faced. Some people (such as we FA’ers) like the 'power over others' that being 'handicapped' gives them. Some of us just love to see everybody run around to tend their slightest need! Then there are some of our ‘helpers’ (including doctors, etc) who would like you to remain forever passive and never ever rock the boat. Parents and family of FA'ers are also caught in this disease process. They are undeservedly burdened with genetic theories and often become frustrated, impotent onlookers. 2)
This process is experimental, and therefore
"inefficient", i.e., won't work for everyone. It would be much
easier if someone else had tried all this before. But there are no
'others'. Experimenters will become the 'others' for future FA'ers. 3)
This process is confusing: a.
because each of us is unique .... as persons and in our symptom
expression. Therefore, a good dose of common sense4 is a
must. There will be things that help me a great deal, but hardly help
you at all, and vice versa. b. most FA'ers do not have scientific training. 4) Much of the time can be frustrating. This occurs because you will also have to set in place the systems that will supply you with your experimental goods. For example, your best suppliers will probably be local health food stores. They will probably carry only a part of your requirements. Some owners MAY be willing to order a few items ... but other products you will have to purchase through the mail, even out of country. If you have access to better financial assistance, there are certain types of therapies, used in Europe (France, Germany, & Greece, etc......), that have only begun in the USA. Some of these treatments are outlawed in North America not because they are necessarily dangerous or ineffective, but because they do not 'fit' into our North American medical paradigm. 5)
It also demands that you learn to "step out on a limb": a.
be confident in yourself
because it is your
problem; b.
have confidence in these words and in helpful medical people; c.
to realize that the healing process is slow. It
takes time to heal, just as it has taken time to get messed-up. You have
to believe you have enough time to try! 6)
You have to be committed.
The road is not easy. [I have been making changes for 21 years now
(1981-2002) and I feel like I have just begun!] It will probably mean a
drastic change in diet, as well as in lifestyle. Finally,
only you
can decide if all
this is worth it. You may wish to read this book and do nothing further.
It's really up to you! Nota
bene Before going
too far into this text, I wish to say a few words about the very
exceptional lady who got me started. Her name was Inna van Staden. Her
daughter, Vicki, had FA. Inna had logged many miles and much energy in
pursuit of a cure for FA. Applying what Inna did know, Vicki remained
remarkably mild in her symptoms. However, in 1980 (as a teen) Vicki died
of accidental insecticide poisoning - (A neighbour sprayed rose bushes,
and she breathed the fumes.).
In 1981 Inna put her extensive knowledge to work, helping me and many,
many others. In November 1988 Inna also died. It is hard to forget her
easy laughter in the midst of an incredible spirit of strong
determination. She seemed driven, but her ride was wonderful! There have been
other FA'ers and friends who have died in the intervening years. While
their memories are beautiful, I would much prefer to hug them. Our world
often continues to be a dark place. This book is dedicated to these
people in the hope that their light will live in us - brighter and
longer. Endnotes: 1.
Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill,
Udo Erasmus (1993) p.3-6 2.
Light - Medicine of the Future,
Jacob Liberman,1991, Bear & Company, p.111 3.
Erasmus p.88 4.
Erasmus p.314 Most of what
you will read throughout this book has been tried by me. However, I am
not yet ‘cured’ nor has my personal health been improved all it can
be ... as far as I am concerned. There are many, many products yet to
try along with their accompanying ideas. Most of these
ideas are so new in concept and practice that I have decided to write
about them in these areas rather than be silent about them ... as if
these ideas only merited obscurity. However, some of these are still in
the process of being validated by me. So as of the summer of 2002 only a
few of these have I completely tried. Their safety and efficacy seem OK
for me. Other approaches are not as yet perfected ... especially for all
FA’ers. The chapter
about cell therapy techniques, will probably be ‘news’ to the
reader. There are ways to apply these therapeutics to us. Ultrafiltrates
(one of its styles) meets most ethical problems. The overriding
concept of this method is to apply the generating capabilities of fetal
life to older (our) cells to fix or renew defective processes. As
profound a help this may be, by itself this therapeutic intervention is
not often complete. Infant life is made to grow larger as well as
initiate the processes of maturing. So any complete human life begins
with a very strong generating capacity, but after birth a new kind of
life ensues. Critical aspects of mammalian new life is initiated by
colostrum(first milk). In the immediate three chapters to follow the
focus is on zinc, taurine, and the essential fatty acids. There are
many, many other chemicals (besides these three) that are significant
components in human colostrum. I now think
that we should separate the effects and nutrient demands into two unique
early growth periods. The first is fetal development and the second is
growth immediately after birth. This second step is started by birthing
and is completed by colostrum. Fetuses rely almost totally on nutrient +
oxygen supplies (and most forms of immunity) from their mother.
Colostrum milk sets up many, many patterns .... from preparation of all
mucous membrane tracts, to a more sophisticated ability of cells to
communicate with each other; to a more active immune system, to a method
of reducing membrane inflammation - all necessary for an independent
life, a physical life separate from ‘mom’. One of these
unique (life-giving) blends is found in the sugars found in colostrum.
Simple sugars were once thought to be all the same kind and then only to
provide energy. But these do many other jobs as well, like providing the
system for cell to cell communication ... vital for proper immune
function. One of these (of 8) sugars, Nacetylneuraminic acid (sialic
acid), is abundant in colostrum. Our bodies do
have some ability to produce these naturally special sugars but this
route is complex and energy draining. Instead, if supplied, these sugars
can be absorbed from food sources. These
sugar-complexes are attached to the ends of some special
proteinfragments (also found in colostrum). [So powerful is the
influence of these peptides, that even after many years, people with
some forms of multiple sclerosis (especially those not
breast fed) are
cured within 6-7 weeks.] Along with these info-peptides (there is one of
protein-fragments + one of sugars and this particular combination is
essential to immunity) it seems that this breast milk (colostrum) is a
much needed multi-nutrient liquid. These short
peptides have now been isolated from bovine(cow) colostrum and is called
Cytolog spray. Much more information is available at http://www.naturalhealthconsult.com/Monographs/cytolog.html
. There is also a product that uses a very specific glycolipid the
promote a healthy immune system and at the same time destroy a number of
pathogens, monolaurin. It is found in human breast milk and is produced
as the supplement Lauricidin™ at www.lauricidin.com
. SPECULATION:
(this may/may not be valid) I now believe that the best human life and
healing is located in alignment to seasonal (and circadian) shifts in
foods plus a seasonal (and circadian) alignment to matching
environmental energy patterns. The two not only reinforce each other
theoretically, but our modern ‘mixing’ of the two threatens modern
human existence. In Canada, this means that we should have a ketogenic
diet throughout winter months. It also means that ‘the best’
strategy for gestation is during this time. [For longevity and prolonged health - it may also involve a change to endogenous breathing ... www.frolov.com , but I’m not at all certain as to the ‘seasonality’ of breathing.]
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